Everglades of Time Long Past

Awakening

I woke up calmly and collectedly as a cool wet dew drop fell onto my nose. I opened my eyes slowly taking in the beautiful shades of green all around me. The big fern under which I was sleeping was covered in little droplets of water that seemed to float as if suspended by a magical force beyond human sight. I sat up and looked around me. Although I already knew exactly what everything looked like, it was still breathtaking.

The air was cool and crisp. The trees large and gorgeous with their imperfect tree bark and frail leaves. I looked down at my feet where the morning mist clung to the bright, rich, and green grass. I looked up and towards the nearby river which was born from a roaring rushing and magnificent waterfall that surged and foamed with crystal like water. And disturbed by my presence was the flock of deer sipping and drinking from the river, eating the moist roots of the grasses. Better yet was the soft singing of the birds in the trees.

I stood up and grabbed my tunic from the nearby tree branch by which it hung and slid it over my head. I put on my shoes and gathered my travelers pack and with a final glance around the campsite, I made off through the trees towards the North-East. It'd been several days since I made off from home and I was making good distance. A few more days and I would soon arrive at my destination.

I recalled my father's words as I made off from home. With a firm grasp on my shoulder, looking deep into my eyes, he said, "Son, no matter what happens at the ceremony, I'll always be proud of you. Just make sure to come back safe and sound." He had a concerned look in his eyes, almost as if he felt something terrible might happen. After all, this ceremony was the most important part of a person's life here in the South-West region of the country.

A few hours had gone by and I felt my stomach growling fiercely, begging me to feed it. With a few more steps I came upon a clearing perfect for setting up a cooking fire. I gathered some dry wood and tinder and set up a small rack on which to cook my food. Striking my flint stone with my hunting knife I set sparks flying, dancing through the air onto the tinder which shone nice and red like a star glowing in a night sky. And this small red beast is what I fed with steady breathes to feed it and help it grow. After the flames had grown sufficiently large I grabbed my cooking pot and gathered the raindrops off the trees nearby and set it to boil above the fire. Once it started boiling I set my ingredients in the pot and made a lovely stew.

And so with my stomach full and heart content, I cleaned up and made way back the way I was headed. A smile on my face and high hopes for the good progress I made that day, I made haste and marked off a good few miles.